PGY-1
Sung Alexander, MD
Hometown: Douglasville, GA
Undergrad: University of Georgia
Medical school: Medical College of Georgia
Hobbies: Restaurant/brewery/distillery tour around Chicago, cooking, watching horror movies/shows, exercise
Favorite case: laser lithotripsy
Why Loyola: Fell in love during sub-I. Residents were very confident and competent performing their assigned tasks. Feel very supported by the residents and faculties.
Advice to the urology applicant: You got this!
Alberto Ocampo, MD
Hometown: Crystal Lake, IL
Undergrad: University of Arkansas at Little Rock
Medical school: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Hobbies: Tennis, Road cycling, Golf, Soccer, Sim racing.
Favorite case: Hand-assisted nephrectomy
Why Loyola: Professionally, I wanted a program with ardent team players, attendings that would challenge me and a case load and complexity to help me be the best urologist I can be. Personally, being close to my family has been a great support system, which really makes a huge difference.
Advice to the urology applicant: Find a program that ticks all your boxes and show them you want to be a passionate team player.
Stephen Schmit, MD
Hometown: Arlington Heights, IL
Undergrad: University of Notre Dame
Medical School: The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University
Hobbies: fly fishing, rock climbing, getting outside
Favorite Case: radical prostatectomy
Why Loyola: I did a sub-internship here and was impressed by the strong teaching culture— our attendings are committed to teaching at every level. I was also struck by how the residents seemed to all be friends and genuinely enjoyed working together. Loyola is a very supportive, tight-knit program.
Advice to the urology applicant: Make an active effort to seek out mentors from your home program and sub-internships; these are the people who will help you grow and make sure that you end up in the right place!
PGY-2
Avi Hass, MD
Hometown: Wilmette, IL
Undergrad: Johns Hopkins University
Med school: Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell
Hobbies: bowling, TV, cooking
Favorite Case: Cystolitholapaxy
Why Loyola?: Chicago is an amazing place to train and to live. Super supportive co-residents and faculty. Impressive case load and catchment area with lots of opportunities for autonomy in training and room to grow as a physician.
Advice for the urology applicant: Always be yourself! Share what you’re passionate about. Be kind to everyone you encounter.
Liam Hatch, MD
Hometown: Bethesda, Maryland
Undergraduate University: University of Maryland
Medical School: Georgetown University
Hobbies: Basketball, snowboarding, specialty coffee
Favorite Case: Partial nephrectomy
Why Loyola?: I was impressed by the faculty's commitment to teaching and training clinically excellent urologists, and the supportive culture among the residents.
Advice for the urology applicant: Use Wieder's Pocket Guide to Urology and AUA core curriculum. Have fun on sub-i's and interviews and be yourself! It may be cliché but you are seeing if a program is a good fit for you.
Mallory McCormick, DO
Hometown: Columbus, OH
Undergraduate University: Ohio Wesleyan University
Medical School: Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine
Hobbies: drawing, running, building LEGOs and puzzles
Favorite case: Cystolitholapaxy
Why Loyola?: The program was recommended by my mentor when I was in medical school and when I rotated here as a student, I felt the culture, training and residents/faculty were exceptional. Loyola has everything to prepare me for any career path in urology all while training with people that truly want me to be my best.
Advice for urology applicant: Be yourself, work hard, and know that everything will work itself out the way it is supposed to.
PGY-3
Connor Lough, MD
Hometown: Cleveland, Ohio
Undergraduate: Saint Louis University
Medical School: University of Missouri (Columbia)
Hobbies: running, watching Cleveland sports teams, exploring Chicago with my wife, spending time with our family/friends as well as our cat (Guinness)
Favorite case: Cystolitholapaxy
Why Loyola?: I When I rotated at Loyola as an away student, I immediately noticed how welcoming the program was and how apparent it was that the faculty and residents genuinely enjoyed working together. Now as a resident, I've really appreciated how the faculty (as well as the other residents) go out of their way to teach and ensure each resident's success!
Advice for urology applicant: On your rotations, be proactive and find small ways to be helpful in the OR and clinic. If you don't know an answer to a question, look it up that night and demonstrate the next day your desire to learn. On your interviews, be yourself and try to find the group of residents you feel most comfortable with -- you will end up spending a lot of time with them after all!
Meredith Meyer, MD
Hometown: Columbus, OH
Undergraduate University: University of Michigan
Medical School: University of Cincinnati
Hobbies: long walks, fancy iced lattes, cooking, biking, yoga
Favorite case: Percutaneous nephrolithotomy
Why Loyola?: A mentor in medical school recommended I highly consider Loyola and I am so glad I did! I loved how genuine all the faculty and residents are. Everyone is so approachable/supportive and wants you to learn/thrive. What stood out to me as an applicant was the strong female presence in the program. Also, Chicago!
Advice for the urology applicant: Programs are all going to offer you great training: think about where you feel like you could find supportive mentors for your specific interests and where you want to live!
Milan Patel, MD
Hometown: Schaumburg, IL
Undergraduate University: University of Illinois at Chicago
Medical School: University of Michigan
Hobbies: weightlifting, watching sports, trying new pizza places
Favorite case: Vasectomy
Why Loyola?: The combination of clinical experience, research, and culture at Loyola are second to none. And the added benefit of being in the greatest city in the world is a plus. Although I’m only a year in, I would choose Loyola again in a heartbeat.
Advice for the urology applicant: There are so many great urology programs out there. The key is to find the program that best fits your needs and will help you succeed.
PGY-4
Timothy Han, MD
Hometown: Vernon Hills, IL
Undergraduate University: Washington University in St. Louis
Medical School: Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University
Hobbies: hanging out with my wife and dog, food, video games, movies/TV
Favorite case: HOLEP or IPP
Why Loyola?: Unmatched camaraderie, approachable faculty, robust surgical volume and breadth of cases/approaches, Chicagoland
Advice for the urology applicant: Residency is long and arduous. Be true to yourself and what is important to you (both in and out of work) so you can find a good fit. It will make the journey easier and more enjoyable!
Loren Roustio, MD
Hometown: Granite City, IL
Undergraduate University: Illinois State University
Medical School: Saint Louis University School of Medicine
Hobbies: touring Chicago, trying new restaurants, running, girls’ trips, live music, redecorating
Favorite case: Robotic partial nephrectomy
Why Loyola?: The relationships amongst resident and faculty were dynamic - not only were faculty obviously deeply invested in resident education, but they value personal development of the residents they mentor. Collegial doesn’t scratch the surface in describing the relationships amongst residents.. Combined with a robust surgical experience that results in graduating residents to be confident, multi-faceted surgeons, I was sold.
Advice for the urology applicant: While clear objectives are important - pay attention to how you feel when interacting with faculty and residents - these are the colleagues you will be working with through rigorous times.
Ushasi Naha, MD
Hometown: Elmhurst, IL
Undergraduate University: Northwestern
Medical school: University of Illinois in Chicago
Hobbies: international travel, exploring new restaurants, concerts
Favorite case: circumcision
Why Loyola?: I loved the breadth and depth of exposure we get to all of the subspecialties, and I was particularly excited to join a program with a continued strong history of female residents and attendings.
Advice for urology applicant: Highlight the activities about which you are truly passionate - that's what really shines in an application!
PGY-5
Amandip Cheema, MD
Hometown: Buffalo, NY
Undergraduate University: University at Buffalo
Medical School: University at Buffalo
Hobbies: hanging out with my kids (dogs) Winston & Leonardo, going to the dog beach, working out, traveling and eating awesome food
Favorite case: Radical cystectomy with creation of neobladder
Why Loyola?: I rotated here as a sub-I and the camaraderie was palpable, the training was great, and I knew I would enjoy the rigors of residency with the group of attendings and residents at Loyola
Advice for the urology applicant: find a place with a good culture, residency is long and can be grueling at times, you want a supportive team
Nicholas Lanzotti, MD
Hometown: Springfield, IL
Undergraduate University: University of Dayton
Medical school: Southern Illinois University School of Medicine
Hobbies: Hiking, biking, kayaking, reading, and most importantly spending time with my wife, daughter, and our two dogs
Favorite case: TURBT
Why Loyola?: On my away rotation at Loyola I was pushed to learn more in a month than I ever had been before but I did so with a group of people that were constantly welcoming and encouraging. The idea of striving for excellence in a collegial atmosphere made me confident that I could become the best surgeon possible here
Advice for urology applicant: Look for a program that will support you both inside and outside of the OR. Being at a place where you feel comfortable with the attendings and your fellow residents is incredibly important if you're going to spend 5-6 years somewhere. Loyola has that.
Bronwyn Long, MD
Hometown: Boxford, MA
Undergraduate University: Vanderbilt University
Medical School: New York Medical College
Hobbies: Solo traveling, hiking, going to concerts, interior design, hanging out with my co-residents
Favorite case: TURP
Why Loyola?: I loved the breadth of cases and emphasis on education I experienced during my sub-internship, and now the relationships I’ve built with my coworkers as a current resident.
Advice for the urology applicant: Be yourself and try not to stress too much, as difficult as that is. Chances are you’ll end up at the program you’re supposed to be at.
PGY-6
Victor Chen, MD
Hometown: West Bloomfield, MI
Undergraduate University: University of Michigan
Medical School: Case Western Reserve University
Hobbies: traveling for food, national parks, board and video games, Michigan football, hanging out with my wife and two cats
Favorite case: Hydrocelectomy
Why Loyola?: Loyola felt like family during my away rotation with fun and close knit residents, as well as the robust operative experience
Advice for the urology applicant: Be professional, prepared, engaged, enthusiastic, and most importantly: just be yourself.
Olivia Copelan, MD
Hometown: Columbus, OH
Undergraduate University: Vanderbilt University
Medical School: Case Western Reserve University
Hobbies: running on the lakefront, pilates, going out to new restaurants, visiting my nieces, concerts
Favorite case: IPP
Why Loyola?: The camaraderie between residents, wide exposure and experience across subspecialties, Chicago!
Advice for the urology applicant: Try to get involved early in research and shadowing! Also find out what is important to you in a program. Be yourself during interviews!
Arden Plumb, MD
Hometown: Sacramento, CA
Undergraduate University: Washington University in St. Louis
Medical School: University of Illinois - Chicago
Hobbies: jogging, traveling with family, trying out new Chicago restaurants, hanging out with co-residents and free time spent with my husband Sam, and my cat Jack
Favorite case: TURP vs hydrocelectomy
Why Loyola?: I chose Loyola because of its surgical training, excellent faculty, and its long-standing reputation of training female urologists! What really stood out during interviews was how welcoming the faculty was and how close-knit the residents are.
Advice for the urology applicant: Keep an open mind throughout the interviewing process. You may end up feeling at home at programs you did not anticipate.